Patents Assigned to Earth Networks, Inc.
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Patent number: 11971438Abstract: Described herein is a lightning detection sensor. The lightning detection sensor comprises a sensing element that detects radio-frequency (RF) signals relating to lightning activity, a circuit that receives the detected RF signals from the sensing element and amplifies the RF signals for output to a digital signal processing device, and a reference element coupled to the circuit. The reference element is connected to an antenna ground that is isolated from a power ground, and the reference element and the antenna ground are not connected to an external ground plane.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Michael Stock, Jeff Lapierre, Richard Sonnenfeld, Curtis Generous
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Patent number: 11513256Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for locating lightning activity. A server computing device receives, from a satellite that detects lightning activity occurring in a geographic region, location coordinates and time data associated with lightning activity detected by the satellite. The server captures, from at least one of one or more ground-based lightning sensors that detect lightning activity, lightning feature data for lightning activity detected by the at least one of one or more ground-based lightning sensors. The server computing device determines a location of the lightning activity within the geographic region using the lightning feature data and the location coordinates and time data. The server computing device transmits the determined location of the lightning activity to one or more remote computing devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2018Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Michael Stock, Stan Heckman
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Patent number: 10877180Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids, a rate of change of the dBR, and the geographical area of the lightning activity.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
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Patent number: 10613064Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for measuring greenhouse gas. A calibration device receives a first sample of atmospheric gas from a first port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device receives a second sample of atmospheric gas from a second port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device routes the first sample and the second sample to a measurement device for greenhouse gas analysis. The measurement device determines a characteristic of a greenhouse gas present in at least one of the first sample and the second sample. The measurement device transmits data associated with the determined characteristic of the greenhouse gas to a computing device for determining sinks and sources of the gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Elena Novakovskaia, Robert S. Marshall, Ray F. Weiss, Ralph Keeling, Lisa Welp-Smith
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Patent number: 9891345Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2013Date of Patent: February 13, 2018Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Chonglin Liu, Robert S. Marshall, Elena Novakovskaia, Christopher Dale Sloop
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Patent number: 9810811Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity, where the data includes lightning flash data. The computing device identifies cells of lighting activity based upon the lightning flash data and determines a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of the cells of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device compares the determined lightning rate to a threshold lightning rate, where the threshold rate is set based upon atmospheric conditions in a location of the cells of lightning activity. The computing device determines one or more geographical areas at risk based on the location, the movement speed, and the movement direction of the cells of lightning activity, and issues an alert to remote devices when the lightning rate exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Patent number: 9702959Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for remote sensing to derive a calibrated power measurement for a power distribution point. Magnetic field sensors of a sensor module sense a magnetic field emitted by the power distribution point. A first processor generates an uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor, the uncalibrated power measurement derived from the magnetic field sensed by the magnetic field sensor and a voltage carried by the power distribution point. A second processor determines a response of each magnetic field sensor to a known power load being drawn through the power distribution point. The second processor derives a transfer function using the response of each magnetic field sensor to the known power load. The second processor applies the transfer function to the uncalibrated power measurement for each magnetic field sensor to generate the calibrated power measurement for the power distribution point.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Stan Heckman, Chonglin Liu, Christopher Dale Sloop, Scott Stickels, Donnie Bixler, Emily Stickels
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Patent number: 9612591Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling a building's energy consumption and comfort. A computing device receives measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, where the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics. The computing device generates a set of thermal response coefficients based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors, and weather data associated with the building's location. The computing device predicts an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather. The computing device selects minimal energy requirements of the building based on an energy consumption cost associated with the building and determines energy control points based on the energy response and the minimal energy requirements.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2015Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, David Oberholzer, Robert S. Marshall, Jungho Kim, Michael Siemann
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Patent number: 9547987Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for conveying vehicle driving information. A server computing device generates a hazard index for a plurality of road segments in a predefined coverage area. The server computing device determines a current hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments based on (i) weather conditions data associated with the road segments, (ii) road conditions data associated with the road segments, and (iii) physical attributes of the road segments. The server computing device determines a predicted hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments and assigns the present hazard value and predicted hazard value to the corresponding road segment. The server computing device receives location data associated with a remote device and transmits hazard information associated with one or more of the plurality of road segments based on the location data and the hazard index.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall
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Patent number: 9471082Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building. A computing device generates thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building and weather data associated with the location of the building. The computing device an energy response for each of a plurality of different points in time based on the thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather conditions. The computing device selects minimal energy requirements based on an energy consumption cost. The computing device determines a series of temperature set points based on the corresponding energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The computing device transmits the series of temperature set points to a thermostat, which adjusts operating parameters using each series of temperature set points when a time value matches the point in time associated with each series of temperature set points.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignees: Earth Networks Inc., The University of Maryland College ParkInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, David Oberholzer, Robert S. Marshall, Jungho Kim, Michael Siemann
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Patent number: 9448214Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for measuring greenhouse gas. A calibration device receives a first sample of atmospheric gas from a first port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device receives a second sample of atmospheric gas from a second port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device routes the first sample and the second sample to a measurement device for greenhouse gas analysis. The measurement device determines a characteristic of a greenhouse gas present in at least one of the first sample and the second sample. The measurement device transmits data associated with the determined characteristic of the greenhouse gas to a computing device for determining sinks and sources of the gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Elena Novakovskaia, Robert S. Marshall, Ray F. Weiss, Ralph Keeling, Lisa Welp-Smith
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Patent number: 9261863Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building. A first computing device generates a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building and weather data associated with the location of the building. The first computing device predicts an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building. The first computing device selects minimal energy requirements of the building based on an energy consumption cost associated with the building. The first computing device determines one or more temperature set points for the building based on the energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The first computing device transmits the one or more temperature set points to a thermostat of the building.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignees: Earth Networks, Inc., University of Maryland College ParkInventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, David Oberholzer, Robert S. Marshall, Jungho Kim, Michael Siemann
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Publication number: 20150213495Abstract: A system for presenting a user selected advertisement to a user includes a sponsor selector configured to obtain an advertisement selection of the user. The advertisement selection includes at least one user preferred advertising source. The system also includes a sponsor select server that receives the advertisement selection of the user from the sponsor selector and to select a user preferred advertisement based on the user preferred advertising source. In addition, the system includes a content presenter that presents the user preferred advertisement and the multimedia content to the user. A related method, computer program product, sponsor selector apparatus and content presenter apparatus are also presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: John GAUGHAN, Andrew George Jedynak, Shane Allen Lundy
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Patent number: 8836518Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for predicting the potential for severe weather. Data associated with lightning activity is received by a computing device. A location, a movement speed, a movement direction, and a lightning rate of one or more cells of lightning activity are determined by the computing device based on the received data. The lightning rate is compared, by the computing device, to a threshold lightning rate. One or more geographical areas at risk are determined by the computing device based on the location, the movement speed and the movement direction of the one or more cells of lightning activity. An alert is issued by the computing device to one or more remote devices monitoring the geographical areas when the lightning exceeds a value of the threshold lightning rate.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2011Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu, Stan Heckman, Mark A. Hoekzema
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Publication number: 20140225750Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for conveying vehicle driving information. A server computing device generates a hazard index for a plurality of road segments in a predefined coverage area. The server computing device determines a current hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments based on (i) weather conditions data associated with the road segments, (ii) road conditions data associated with the road segments, and (iii) physical attributes of the road segments. The server computing device determines a predicted hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments and assigns the present hazard value and predicted hazard value to the corresponding road segment. The server computing device receives location data associated with a remote device and transmits hazard information associated with one or more of the plurality of road segments based on the location data and the hazard index.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall
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Publication number: 20140195158Abstract: Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for measuring greenhouse gas. A calibration device receives a first sample of atmospheric gas from a first port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device receives a second sample of atmospheric gas from a second port exposed to the earth's atmosphere. The calibration device routes the first sample and the second sample to a measurement device for greenhouse gas analysis. The measurement device determines a characteristic of a greenhouse gas present in at least one of the first sample and the second sample. The measurement device transmits data associated with the determined characteristic of the greenhouse gas to a computing device for determining sinks and sources of the gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicants: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, EARTH NETWORKS, INC.Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Elena Novakovskaia, Robert S. Marshall, Ray F. Weiss, Ralph Keeling, Lisa Welp-Smith, William J. Paplawsky
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Patent number: 8655951Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for conveying vehicle driving information. A hazard index indicating a level of driving safety is generated for a plurality of road segments. The generating comprises determining a hazard value for each of the plurality of road segments based on weather conditions data associated with the road segments, road conditions data associated with the road segments, and physical attributes of the road segments, and assigning the hazard value to the associated road segment. Location data associated with a remote device is received. Hazard information associated with one or more of the plurality of road segments and based on the location data and the hazard index is transmitted.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Dale Sloop, Robert S. Marshall
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Publication number: 20130345982Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are described herein for generating proxy reflectivity data associated with lightning activity. A computing device receives data associated with lightning activity for one or more geographical areas. The computing device determines the logarithmic scale of the combined in-cloud and cloud-to-ground flash rate (dBR) for one or more grids of lightning activity based on the received data. The computing device generates proxy reflectivity data based on the dBR of the grids.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: EARTH NETWORKS, INC.Inventor: Earth Networks, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130190940Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building. A first computing device generates a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building and weather data associated with the location of the building. The first computing device predicts an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building. The first computing device selects minimal energy requirements of the building based on an energy consumption cost associated with the building. The first computing device determines one or more temperature set points for the building based on the energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The first computing device transmits the one or more temperature set points to a thermostat of the building.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2012Publication date: July 25, 2013Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK, EARTH NETWORKS, INC.Inventors: EARTH NETWORKS, INC., University of Maryland, College Park
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Patent number: 8275548Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for detecting lightning activity. Waveform data indicative of lightning activity is received by a waveform sensor from one or more signal converters. The waveform data comprises a group of electromagnetic waveforms. The waveform data is filtered by a processor to remove noise frequencies. One or more uncompressed portions of the waveform data are transmitted to a processing server. Digital filter data based on the one or more uncompressed portions of waveform data are received from the processing server. One or more frequencies are removed from the waveform data based on the digital filter data. The waveform data is compressed. The compressing includes selecting one or more points on a waveform, wherein the one or more points are above a predetermined threshold. The compressing includes determining an inflection of the selected points based on a predefined algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2009Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Earth Networks, Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Marshall, Christopher Dale Sloop, Ralph Joseph Markson, Stan Heckman, Benjamin E. Beroukhim, Chonglin Liu